Hyperspectral colon tissue cell classification

A novel algorithm to discriminate between normal and malignant tissue cells of the human colon is presented. The microscopic level images of human colon tissue cells were acquired using hyperspectral imaging technology at contiguous wavelength intervals of visible light. While hyperspectral imagery data provides a wealth of information, its large size normally means high computational processing complexity. Several methods exist to avoid the so-called curse of dimensionality and hence reduce the computational complexity. In this study, we experimented with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and two modifications of Independent Component Analysis (ICA). In the first stage of the algorithm, the extracted components are used to separate four constituent parts of the colon tissue: nuclei, cytoplasm, lamina propria, and lumen. The segmentation is performed in an unsupervised fashion using the nearest centroid clustering algorithm. The segmented image is further used, in the second stage of the classification algorithm, to exploit the spatial relationship between the labeled constituent parts. Experimental results using supervised Support Vector Machines (SVM) classification based on multiscale morphological features reveal the discrimination between normal and malignant tissue cells with a reasonable degree of accuracy

Does an Intervention Designed to Improve Self-management, Social Support and Awareness of Palliative-care Address Needs of Persons with Heart Failure, Family Caregivers and Clinicians?

Aims and Objectives To conduct a formative evaluation of the iPad‐Enhanced Shared Care Intervention for Partners (iSCIP) among persons with heart failure (HF), family caregivers and clinicians. Together, persons with HF and family caregivers are referred to as partners. Background There is growing awareness of the caregiver\u27s contributions to HF self‐management, social support and reciprocal benefits of interventions that involve both partners. The iSCIP engages both partners in a six‐session psychosocial intervention to address three preventable causes of poor outcomes in a HF population: poor self‐management skills, inadequate social support and underutilisation of palliative care. An iPad app is used to organise the intervention. The goals of the iSCIP are to engage partners in HF self‐management, communication about the HF patient\u27s care values and preferences, and future planning. Design A qualitative focus group design was used. Methods Seven clinicians and eight partners participated in focus groups to explore their experiences, needs and reaction to the iSCIP content and technologies employed. Open‐ended questions and closed‐ended surveys were used to collect data. Deductive content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. NVivo software was used for qualitative data analysis. Bayesian statistical models were used to analyse numeric data. Results The iSCIP met partners’ and clinicians’ needs to improve self‐management, communicate about care values and preferences and plan for the future. Quantitative analysis of numeric data supported our qualitative findings, in that both groups rated the intervention components useful to very useful. Implications for practice These findings add to the growing evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of programs that address care values and preferences, and care planning. The iSCIP can be used as a guide for developing interventions and software applications, which involve both partners in care and palliative‐care discussions

Magnetic properties of Mn-doped Ge46 and Ba8Ge46 clathrates

We present a detailed study of the magnetic properties of unique cluster assembled solids namely Mn doped Ge46 and Ba8Ge46 clathrates using density functional theory. We find that ferromagnetic (FM) ground states may be realized in both the compounds when doped with Mn. In Mn2Ge44, ferromagnetism is driven by hybridization induced negative exchange splitting, a generic mechanism operating in many diluted magnetic semiconductors. However, for Mn-doped Ba8Ge46 clathrates incorporation of conduction electrons via Ba encapsulation results in RKKY-like magnetic interactions between the Mn ions. We show that our results are consistent with the major experimental observations for this system.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Teacher Candidates and Latina/o English Learners at Fenton Elementary School: The Role of Early Clinical Experiences in Urban Teacher Education

This study investigates how early clinical experiences impact teacher candidates’ learning and experiences with Latina/o English learners in a field-based program housed in a multilingual, urban elementary school. We draw on multiple-case study design and use discourse analysis to explore cases of three candidates. Findings reveal exploration of additive language policies, use of cultural tools in academic contexts, and linguistic validity in assessments

A Comparative Experimental Study of Sweep Efficiency in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs

In this paper the performance of gel and polymer in fractured core plugs in laboratory is compared. The experimental results show that in a naturally fractured reservoir, the best solution to improve oil recovery should be such that the gel particle sizes are larger than the pore sizes, and the solution viscosity becomes very high after the particles contact with water. If the fracture is wide, the improvement of sweep efficiency by a polymer solution is limited because the polymer solution could flow through the fracture channel. The results in this paper provide us with guidelines to select proper polymers to improve sweep efficiency.Key words: Sweep efficiency; Naturally fractured reservoirs; Polymer solution; Oil recover

Karakterisasi Ras Fusarium Oxysporum F. SP. Cubense dengan Metode Vegetative Compatibility Group Test dan Identifikasi Kultivar Pisang yang Terserang

Beberapa isolat Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) di Sumatera Barat telah dikoleksi untuk mengkaji karakterisasi, distribusi, serta kultivar-kultivar pisang yang terserang. Penelitian dilakukan dari bulan Mei 1999 sampai dengan bulan Maret 2000 di enam dari 14 Daerah Tingkat II, yaitu Solok, Tanah Datar, Agam, Bukit Tinggi, Padang, dan Sawahlunto Sijunjung. Isolat Foc dikumpulkan dari tanaman pisang yang memperlihatkan gejala luar terserang Foc. Isolat-isolat ini selanjutnya dimurnikan dengan teknik spora tunggal dan ras Foc diidentifikasi secara vegetative compatibility group (VCG). Gejala layu fusarium ditemukan di semua lokasi penelitian pada 15 kultivar pisang, baik pisang buah meja seperti pisang buai (AAA), pisang raja serai/sereh (AAB), dan pisang ambon (AAA), maupun pisang olahan seperti pisang kepok (ABB/BBB). Tiga puluh tujuh isolat Foc dikoleksi dari jaringan vaskular pisang yang memperlihatkan gejala luar serangan Foc. Isolat-isolat tersebut terkelompok ke dalam vegetative com- patibility group 0120, 0124, 0125, 01213, 01215, 01216, 0128, dan 01219. Tiga puluh dua dari 37 isolat Foc yang dikoleksi ini diidentifikasi sebagai Foc ras 4, yaitu VGC 0120, 01213, 01215, 01216, dan 01219. Sedangkan lima isolat lainnya termasuk ke dalam VCG 0124 dan 01218 Foc ras 1. Isolat VCG 01216 ditemukan di semua lokasi pengamatan pada 14 dari 15 kultivar terserang Foc. Sedangkan VCG 0120 hanya di temukan di Padang. Distribusi dari VCG lainnya lebih bervariasi di setiap daerah pengamatan. Kultivar cavendish (buai, AAA) yang dinyatakan resisten terhadap ras 1, ternyata ditemukan diserang oleh Foc ras 1 VCG 01218. Kultivar kepok yang diakui tahan terhadap Foc ras 4 dan merupakan salah satu kultivar andalan di Sumatera Barat, ditemukan diserang oleh Foc ras 4 VCG 0120, 01215, 01216, dan 01219, kultivar ini bahkan juga diserang oleh Foc ras 1 VCG 0124

NEUCOMP2 - parallel neural network compiler

A parallel neural network compiler (NEUCOMP2) for a shared-memory parallel machine has been implemented by introducing parallelism in NEUCOMP. The parallel routine detects the program loops of the sequential version generated by NEUCOMP, undergoing analysis of the data dependences and transforms it into a parallel version. Experiments were carried out to study the performance of the NEUCOMP2 programs for the backpropagation network. NEUCOMP2 was developed and run on the Sequent Balance 8000 computer system at Parallel Algorithm Research Centre, U.K

Economic Growth, Exchange Rate and Constrained Competiveness of the Tourism Sector in Andalucía

This paper examines the relationship between tourism and economic growth, analyzing key factors affecting tourism income in Andalucía, Spain. Based on time series annual data for the period 2005 to 2012 and a multiple regression analysis we show that international tourism has made an important contribution to Andalucía’s economic growth. Some of the factors considered in the analysis include the number of luxury hotels, the hotel price index and the exchange rate, though the latter is outside of the control of local authorities under the European Monetary Union (EMU)

Parallel simulation of character recognition problems using NEUCOMP2

NEUCOMP2 is a parallel Neural Network Compiler for a shared-memory parallel machine. It compiles a program written as a list of mathematical specifications of Neural Network (NN) models and then translates it into a chosen target program which contains parallel codes. Performance results for character recognition problems on popular NN models are presented. The models are the backpropagation, Kohonen, Counterpropagation and ART1 network models. NEUCOMP2 was developed and run on the SEQUENT Balance 8000 computer system at PARC

Somatosensory Precision in Speech Production

SummarySpeech production is dependent on both auditory and somatosensory feedback [1–3]. Although audition may appear to be the dominant sensory modality in speech production, somatosensory information plays a role that extends from brainstem responses to cortical control [4–6]. Accordingly, the motor commands that underlie speech movements may have somatosensory as well as auditory goals [7]. Here we provide evidence that, independent of the acoustics, somatosensory information is central to achieving the precision requirements of speech movements. We were able to dissociate auditory and somatosensory feedback by using a robotic device that altered the jaw's motion path, and hence proprioception, without affecting speech acoustics. The loads were designed to target either the consonant- or vowel-related portion of an utterance because these are the major sound categories in speech. We found that, even in the absence of any effect on the acoustics, with learning subjects corrected to an equal extent for both kinds of loads. This finding suggests that there are comparable somatosensory precision requirements for both kinds of speech sounds. We provide experimental evidence that the neural control of stiffness or impedance—the resistance to displacement—provides for somatosensory precision in speech production [8–10]